BY AMBER J. CRAFT
Special to the Times
On March 14, Lake Butler Elementary School opened its doors to a wealth of career opportunities during its annual Career Day event.
Coordinated by longtime guidance counselor Maria Kish, who has been organizing the event for 30 years, Career Day provides students with hands-on exposure to a variety of professions.
The goal is to get students thinking about their futures by introducing them to career options they may never have considered before.
The event was held throughout the school’s campus, with career stations set up both outside and in classrooms. These stations represented a broad range of professions, from law enforcement and medical services to wildlife management and mental health counseling. The event was structured to ensure that students were fully engaged, with 20-minute rotations allowing them to spend focused time at each station, accompanied by their teachers.
Career Day stations were strategically assigned by grade level, so that younger students were introduced to basic career concepts, while older students were able to explore more complex and in-depth professions. The idea, according to Kish, was to create an experience that would be both engaging and educational for each age group.
“I try to focus with Pre-K all the way up to 4th grade,” she explained, “so we get a little bit more of the in-depth occupations at the fourth-grade level. These students are going to be able to sit down, and they’re going to listen to our judge, or they’re going to listen to a mental health professional about their job.”
Hands-on experience
One of the highlights of Career Day was the variety of hands-on exhibits that students could explore. Outside, police cars, a fire truck, and even a medical helicopter were available for students to inspect up close. The K-9 dogs and their handlers were also on hand to demonstrate how the dogs assist in law enforcement. Wildlife rangers were present to discuss conservation efforts, providing a glimpse into the world of environmental protection.
Kish emphasized that this hands-on aspect of Career Day is what really captivates the students and helps make the event a memorable learning experience.
“Getting students hands-on experience is the key to keeping their interest,” Kish explained. “The communication with the teachers then gets them the opportunity to ask questions, what expectations do you have? What are grades? Why do they matter? Do you have to have a college degree to get this job?”
Lake Butler Elementary School serves nearly a thousand students, and organizing an event of this magnitude requires the support of not only teachers but also the broader community. Kish spoke highly of the collaboration involved in pulling off the event each year.
“It is a lot of hands-on deck, and a lot of people help work it out,” she said. “The teachers are great. We rotate, and it’s a great opportunity to allow the youth to know what is in your community.”
Community involvement has always been a cornerstone of Career Day at Lake Butler Elementary. Many parents volunteer their time, sharing their career experiences and demonstrating various aspects of their jobs.
“We have parents that are willing to volunteer, and through them, we get to know different careers,” Kish said.
Connects the classroom to the real world
This year, Union County Judge Mitchell Bishop made an appearance, providing students with an opportunity to learn about the justice system. Additionally, mental health professionals, prison staff, and various public service workers were on hand to share their experiences with students.
“The prisons provide quite a few different occupations. We partner with RMC and UCI. They’ve always provided us with support,” said Kish, noting that careers in corrections and rehabilitation offer diverse opportunities that students may not otherwise be exposed to.
One of the key benefits of Career Day is the connection it fosters between classroom learning and real-world application. By giving students a chance to explore different careers, the event helps them see the value of their education in a tangible way.
“Career day generates a conversation in the classroom between teachers and students,” Kish noted.
Students begin to ask questions about how what they’re learning now relates to their future. This natural curiosity allows teachers to discuss topics like the importance of good grades, the value of higher education, and the wide range of career paths available.
For example, older students may realize that becoming a judge or a mental health counselor requires many years of study and dedication. Younger students, on the other hand, may be inspired by careers they hadn’t considered before, like becoming a firefighter, police officer, or wildlife ranger. Kish explained how these conversations often help students better understand the purpose behind their education. “The communication with the teachers then gets them the opportunity to ask questions, what expectations do you have? What are grades? Why do they matter?” Kish said. “Do you have to have a college degree to get this job?”
Despite the challenges of organizing such a large event, Career Day at LBES is a highly anticipated tradition that has proven its worth year after year.
“We’re a student population of almost a thousand kids,” Kish said. “Our resource officer coordinates for me the outside stations—the fire truck, the ambulance; we have the K-9, we have the wildlife rangers.”
Kish also noted that many of the school’s own staff members, including mental health counselors, are actively involved in the event, helping students make meaningful connections with the adults in their community.
As Career Day came to a close, the students of Lake Butler Elementary School left with more than just a fun experience. They walked away with a greater sense of the opportunities that lie ahead and a clearer understanding of how the lessons they are learning in school can help them achieve their future goals. Career Day not only opens students’ eyes to potential careers but also inspires them to start thinking about their futures early, laying the groundwork for lifelong learning and success.
